Coming Home (17 page)

Susan walked slowly out to the balcony of the home she and
Craig had shared for their entire married life, all thirty-five wonderful years
of it. The home Craig had owned before they got married. She sighed as she sat
down in her rocking chair and gazed out over the view of the ocean. It was even
better from up here on the second floor than it was from the picture windows in
the living room. She leaned her head back with a smile and thanked God for all
the blessings He had given her. She and Craig had four wonderful children.
Their firstborn, Julie, was married to Brett and they were currently
missionaries in Quito, Ecuador. She prayed daily for God's protection over
them. Their second born, Chad, was a heart surgeon at a local hospital. He was
a good man, but still not married. Susan wondered if he would ever get married,
but didn't worry about it. She prayed for him that he would remain in God's
will. Their third born, Chelsea, was a delight and a theatre teacher at the
state university. She was married to a youth pastor and had three children,
Susan prayed for their whole family and that God would keep His hand of
protection on them. Then her mind went to their fourth child, Quinn. She
chuckled, what a handful he had been when he was younger, now he was a Navy
Seal deployed somewhere in the world. Susan understood the need for secrecy,
but she didn't like it. She prayed for his safe return and prayed for God's
hand of protection over him.

"There you are."

Susan turned her head with a smile to look at her husband.
"I have always loved it out here."

He came up and laid a blanket across her lap and sat down
in the other rocking chair and looked out over the ocean. "It is still
beautiful, just like you."

Susan smiled serenely. Not a day had passed that he hadn't
said that he loved her or that she was beautiful. He was truly a wonderful
husband.

He reached over and took his hand in hers. "What were
you thinking about when I came out?" He asked.

"Our children."

He smiled as he rubbed his thumb back and forth across the
back of her hand. “I still love the sound of that ‘our children.’ God has truly
blessed us.”

“Yes, He has. I am so thankful that He brought us back
together after all those years.”

“God has restored the years the locusts had eaten, that’s
for sure.”

Susan chuckled just as the phone rang. She picked up the
cordless phone and hit the speaker button. “Hello?”

“Mom, is Dad there, too?”

“Quinn, is that you?” Susan asked at the same time as Craig
said, “I’m here, Son.”

“I’m coming home!”

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR

I
can’t thank you enough for reading my little story.  I have always loved to
read and one day I thought “I could write a book.”  Writing this story for
NaNoWriMo was one of the most fun things I have ever done.  It isn’t the first
story I have ever written and I’m sure it won’t be my last.  God has given me
this desire to write and so it is with great thankfulness and praise to Him
that I am able to share Susan and Craig’s story with you.